DECISIONS OF THE HOLY AND SACRED SYNOD OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem met in Jerusalem, on Thursday, Dec. 30th, 2021 presided by H.H.B. our Patriarch and Father Theophilos III. Following are the decisions:

After raising the prayer and calling for the Holy Spirit, His Beatitude and the members of the Holy Synod expressed their thanks and gratitude to His Hashemite Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein for bestowing the Order of the State Centennial on Dec. 21st, 2021 to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, represented by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, in recognition for the important historical and religious role of the Patriarchate in preserving the holy places, guarding coexistence, serving the Christian presence, and embodying the Hashemite Custodianship in Jerusalem. In addition, the Synod expressed their gratitude to His Majesty for bestowing the same decoration on the Council of Church Leaders in Jordan, in appreciation for the important spiritual and social role that the members of the Council are doing in embodying the unity of the position of the Kingdom’s churches as well as representing the interests of the Kingdom and their communities, whereby the Order of the State Centennial was received by His Eminence Archbishop Christophoros on behalf the members of the Council. In addition, the members of Holy Synod recalled the Order of the State Centennial that was granted on May 25th, 2021 to the late Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem Venedictos I, for the establishment of the modern procedures of the Patriarchate and its courts, to govern and rule in accordance with the 1958 Jordanian law of all denominations and churches, which is still valid until today.

His Beatitude also discussed with the members of the Synod several cases concerning the administration, ecclesiastical and congregation affairs, and took the following decisions:

The Appointment of His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias as General Patriarchal Deputy.

Approval of the following ordinations:

1-            In Jerusalem:

The ordination of the monk Dositheos, as Deacon

2-            In Jordan:

The ordination of the monk Porphyrios Barham, as Deacon

The ordination of the spiritual son Osama Salman Salim Marji, as Deacon

The ordination of the spiritual son Tariq Freih Ilyas Swiess, as Deacon

At the end of the Synod meeting, His Beatitude and the members of the Holy Synod extended the heartfelt greetings, at this holy and blessed season, to all the clergymen and to our children in our congregations and the Patriarchal see and to all the world.

Raising their prayers to the Ιncarnate Lord born in the manger in Bethlehem and appearing in the river Jordan, for the peace of the world and to preserve us from all distress and troubles, dispelling the scourge of the epidemic, wishing everyone a new year full of goodness and blessings, through the intercessions of the Most Holy Virgin Mary and by the grace of the Life-giving Holy Sepulcher and all the Saints, Amen.